For immediate release May 29, 2007

Forward thinking and mindful of past foundations…

New Zealand’s Anglican and Catholic bishops stand by their contribution
to the development of the National Statement on Religious Diversity

The country’s Anglican and Catholic bishops are proud to have contributed to the development of the National Statement of Religious Diversity – and they’re satisfied with the outcome.

The two sets of bishops have joined forces to produce a statement of their own, in which they endorse the work of the bishops who helped work up the religious diversity statement.

The combined bishops say they applaud the way the national statement has grappled with “our realities as a multicultural and diverse community in these islands.”

“From our own faith position we cherish freedom of thought and freedom of religious expression, both for ourselves and for others.” This, they say, “is inherent in our understanding of the Christian Gospel, as a gift that is freely given, to be freely experienced and freely received in a climate of freedom itself.”

The bishops say they “affirm the right to challenge the state” when Gospel demands require this, and they “celebrate the right to share our faith in this democracy…”

But they also affirm that this right to share faith is not exclusive to Christians: they point out that Governor Hobson committed the Crown to enduring respect for the freedoms of different faiths at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

By making this acknowledgement, the bishops are hardly selling their birthright.

“Far from denying our Christian heritage, we affirm it and uphold it,” they say. “The Christian Gospel played a pivotal role in the founding of both the Treaty itself and in the religious heritage of this nation.

“We honor the life passion and commitment of the early missions which sought to witness to the grace and justice of the Christian gospel. We celebrate this heritage and commend this mission and its timeless message to this land we all share and love.”

Some may have seen The National Statement on Religious Diversity as a State-inspired move.

In fact, it is community-based – and is the result of broad discussion among faith and interfaith groups and the wider New Zealand public. The statement is not destined to be enshrined in legislation.

The combined bishops’ statement follows:

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Catholic and Anglican Bishops’ Statement on the National Statement on Religious Diversity

We are pleased to support the contributions of the Anglican and Catholic bishops on the National Statement on Religious Diversity for Aotearoa New Zealand and are satisfied with the outcome.

The Statement attempts to describe our realities as a multicultural and diverse community here in these islands. Statements on religious diversity are also statements on cultural diversity, and at a time when cultural diversity is increasing, working to develop a statement of this kind is both forward thinking and mindful of past foundations.

From our own faith position we cherish freedom of thought and freedom of religious expression, both for ourselves and for others. This is inherent in our understanding of the Christian Gospel, as a gift that is freely given, to be freely experienced and freely received in a climate of freedom itself. We refer to the first letter of Peter Chapter 2 v 16:

Live as free people, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. Honour all people. Love your faith community. Fear God, Honour the Emperor (meaning the Governing authority)

We also affirm the right of the church and other faith communities to challenge the state in the name of the values, ethics and justice issues that come from a faith based perspective , because of our belief that ruling authorities are also accountable to God ( Revelation 1:5), as are we all.

We celebrate the right to share our faith in this democracy, and we wish to reciprocate that right with other faiths. We believe this right is offered and guaranteed in what is commonly referred to as the fourth article of the Treaty of Waitangi of 1840, the founding document of our nation. In response to a question from Bishop Pompallier, Governor Hobson said he would protect and recognise not only major western religions, but also Maori customary beliefs and practices.

We also affirm that there is no state religion in our land and affirm that the protection and recognition outlined in the Treaty document are available to all without prejudice or special status.

Far from denying our Christian heritage, we affirm it and uphold it. We wish to affirm the central role that the Christian Gospel played in the founding of both the Treaty itself and in the religious heritage of this nation. We recognize that a simple majority of New Zealanders identify as Christian from the 2006 census, and note that this reflects the long story of Christian presence and faith sharing here from 1814 onwards within most of the major ethnic groups of our land.

We honor the life passion and commitment of the early missions which sought to witness to the grace and justice of the Christian gospel. We celebrate this heritage and commend this mission and its timeless message to this land we all share and love.

ANGLICAN BISHOPS

Archbishop David Moxon Archbishop Brown Turei

Senior Bishop Bishop of Aotearoa

of the New Zealand Dioceses

The Right Reverend John Bluck The Right Reverend Ngarahu Katene

Bishop of Waiapu Te Pihopa Te Manawa O Te Wheke

The Right Reverend Thomas Brown The Right Reverend John Paterson

Bishop of Wellington Bishop of Auckland

The Right Reverend Dr David Coles The Right Reverend Te Kitohi Wiremu Pikaahu

Bishop of Christchurch Te Pihopa Te Tai Tokerau

(not contacted: overseas)

The Right Reverend George Connor The Right Reverend Richard Randerson

Bishop of Dunedin Assistant Bishop of Auckland

The Right Reverend Richard Ellena The Right Reverend Philip Richardson

Bishop of Nelson Bishop in Taranaki

The Right Reverend John Gray The Right Reverend Muru Walters

Te Pihopa O Te Waipounamu Te Pihopa Te Upoko O Te Ika

The Right Reverend Dr Winston Halapua

Assistant Bishop of Polynesia in New Zealand

CATHOLIC BISHOPS

The Most Reverend Denis Browne The Most Reverend Colin Campbell

Bishop of Hamilton Bishop of Dunedin

The Most Reverend Peter Cullinane The Most Reverend Patrick Dunn

Bishop of Palmerston North The Bishop of Auckland

The Most Reverend Barry Jones The Most Reverend John Dew

Bishop of Christchurch Archbishop of Wellington

ENDS

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